Humbershoe

Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850

Poorhouses, Poor Law, etc.

Humbershoe The State of the Poor 1797

The hamlet of Humbershoe is situated in the town of Markyate street in the parish of Studham. It contains about 120 acres, and 170 inhabitants, whereof a few are Anabaptists: 15 houses pay the commutation tax; and 19 are exempted; in the latter is included an empty house, which would be chargeable if inhabited. The town, of Markyate-street, lies in 2 counties, and 3 parishes: it is situated on one of the great north roads; and chiefly depends upon travellers for support. This place is a singular instance of the great inequality of the poors rates in neighbouring parishes. In Humbershoe, (which is on one side of the street,) they are at 9s. in the pound; but in the 2 hamlets on the opposite side, they are not more than 2s. 6d. or 3s. in the pound. The reason assigned is, that the hamlet of Humberfhoe has very little land, and a number of ruinous houses. The inhabitants are, principally, innkeepers, common tradesmen, and shop-keepers: there is, likewise, one farmer, a few straw workers, and the rest are, mostly, agricultural labourers.

The prices of provisions are; beef 4 1/2 and 5d. the pound; mutton 6d.; lamb 6 1/2 or 7d.; veal 7d.; butter 11 1/2; bread 2s. the half peck loaf; coals 22d. and 2s. the bushel; potatoes, of which very few are sold, are 1s. 6d. the bushel; milk 2d. the quart, but very little is sold.

The wages of common labour are 7s. a week all the year, without board. In hay harvest, men receive 9s. a week; in corn harvest 40s. a-month, and diet. The wages for straw work vary from 2s. 6d. to 12s. a week according to the demand for the manufacture. The chief article manufactured is straw hats.

The rent of land is about 15s. an acre. The land-tax is £31. 1s. 0d. and is collected at 2s. 3 1/2d. in the pound, on the net rental. There is one farm of £84 a year: the rest of the hamlet is let in small parcels. A composition of from 3s. to 4s. an acre is taken in lieu of tithes. There are neither commons, or open fields in this hamlet.

There are no friendly Societies in this neighbourhood. The number of alehouses in the hamlet is 4.

The poor are maintained, at home: the following is a list of those who receive parochial, assistance.

Description

Age

Weekly Allowance

s.

d.

A labourer; lame;

60

1

6

A labourer;

about 70

His wife;

about 70

4

0

3 children; orphans; from 8 to 12 years of age;

9

0

A decayed gentleman;

75

3

0

A bastard;

7

1

0

A bastard;

7

1

0

A tailor’s widow; bedridden;

85

4

0

A militia-man’s family;

3

0

£1

6

6

Besides the above-mentioned persons, several poor people have their house-rents paid by the parish: the sum, annually disbursed, for this purpose, amounts to £6. 16s. Occasional relief is also given to the indigent. The assessments are at full rental. Out of the Rates about 30s. a year, are paid towards the county stock; and between £3. and £4. to constables. The vestry-clerk is allowed one guinea a year.